Terminalia Bellerica

  TERMINALIA BELLERICA

Family – Combretaceae

Scientific name – Terminalia bellirica

COMMON NAMES:

1. In Hindi it is known as Bahera
2. Belerica is from the Arabic name for the fruit balirij corrupted by the writers and finally latinized.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

1. It is a large deciduous tree reaching height upto 120 feet and 10 feet in girth.
2. The bark of this tree is grey and cracked longitudinally.
3. Leaves of these trees are clustered near the ends of the branches, large and leathery, on stalks 1-4 inches long.
4. Flowers greenish yllow on axes 3-6 inches long amongst the leaves.
5. Fruit 1 inch long, grey-velvety, pulp rather dry containing a hard thick-shelled stone.

1. Leafless from November to April in dry places or only in February, March in moist situations.
2. Flowers April to June, the flowers having a very strong honey-like scent which is pleasant when faint but overpowering to most people when near at hand.
3. The fruit varies in shape from nearly globular to ovoid or pear-shaped.

USES OF THE TERMINALIA BELLERICA:

1. The fruit is used medicinally being the Belleric myrabolan of commerce.
2. It is also used as inferior dyeing and tanning material and in making ink.
3. The kernel of the stones is edible and yields an oil used for the hair.
4. The timber is yellowish-brown, coarse grained and not durable being very subject to insect attack and in consequence it is little used.
5. The bahera grows on poor soil and in places when most trees are stunted and the choice of suitable tree is small.
6. For such condition the bahera is valuable as a shade tree.

PROPAGATION OF THE TERMINALIA BELLERICA:

1. It is possible by seed.
2. The whole fruit may be sown and if kept watered the seedlings should appear in one to two months.
3. Seedlings may be transplanted during second rainy season.
4. The rate of growth is fairly fast.

HABITAT:

• Throughout Indian and Burma excluding the arid region.
• Common except in the moistest tracts.